Flue-cleaner



(No Model.)

J.BOTT. FLUE CLEANER. y

19,535,664 V Patented Mar. 12, 1895..

W/TNESSES.' /NVENTOH l THNEYS.

L TN: mams versus co, PHOTO-umn., wAsumaou. n. c.

rrnDSTnTss PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BOTT, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

FLUE-CLEANER.V

srncrrrcnrroiv forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,664, dated March 12,1895.

Appiano.. nea october 31,1894. serial No. 527,564. (Nemesi.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BorT, of Lead-- ville, in the county ot' Lake and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Flue- Oleaner, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object Vof the invention is to provide a new and improved ue cleaner, which is simple and durable in construction, and arranged to properly cleanltheue by a moving scraper actuated by a motive agent 'such as steam,

compressed airl or other fluid under pressure.`

Y will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure lis a side elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same, on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the scraper in position in` the flue; and Fig. 5 isatransverse sectionof;

the same, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The improved iue cleaner is provided with1 a cylindrical casing A, adapted to be inserted in the end of the flue B-which is to be cleaned, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings, Vthe said casing being provided with anannular flange A between which and the end of the lue B is arranged a iiexible packing ring C encircling` the casing A and serving to form a tight joint between the casing and the outer end of the flue B.

In the casing A is formed a valve seat A2 adapted to be engaged by a valve D held on the end of a hollow valve stem D connected with a cylinder E, provided with a handle ll` adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to manipulate the devicein the manner hereinafter more fully described.

Between the cylinder E and the endet the casing A is arranged a spring F coiled on the stem D', and serving to hold the valve D normally in position on its seat A2 in the casingl I A. `New, when the operator desires to open the valve D, he pushes on the handle E to force the stem D' of the valve D inward, so as to move the valve D oft its seat A2, shown in Fig. 2.

In the hollow valve stem D are openings or ports D2 adapted to open into the casing A, so that the fluid under pressure can pass from thehollow stem D through the said ports into the casing Af, and from the latter into the iiue B which is to be cleaned, at the time the valve D is inserted as shown in Fig.. 2.

The cylinder E is provided with a centrally arranged hollow shaft G provided with ports G2 and connected at its outer end by a short pipe G' with a hose H connected with a boiler or other` suitable source of fluid supply, so that steam or other fluid, can pass into the hollow shaft G and through the ports G2 therein, into the turbine wheel I mounted to turn on the shaft G, and having the usual bent arms, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that when the fluid under pressure passes through the curved arms, the wheel is rotated, as is well understood.

On the wheel I is formed a drum l on which winds av cord or metallic tape .l extending through the hollow stem D and through a small openingDsin the valve D, through the casing A to connect at its outer end with the rod K carrying a piston K and a scraper K2 made in theform of two segments having sharp edges adapted to engage the inner surface of the iiue B which is to be cleaned, the segments being made of a diameter about corresponding to the interior diameter of the flue B. The scraper K2 is supported by arms K3 from the rod K', and is arranged in the rear of the said piston K, to scrape the tlue on the vforward movement of the piston within the two disks between which is clamped a rubber or leather disk fitting snugly in the flue and adapted to give on rough places in the flue.

The outer end of the casing A is formed with an annular exhaust chamber A3, into which open the ports D2 at the time the valve D is seated on the valve seat A2, and from this chamber A3 leads a short pipe A4 connecting with a hose L forming the steam exhaust pipe at the time it is desired to return the piston K within the fine B.

The operation is as follows: When itis de.- sircd to clean a iiue, then the piston K is close I to the valve D, seated on the seat A2 and with the rope J-wound upon the drum I. The casing A is passed into the end of the tube or flue B which is to be cleaned, thev packing ring C being in position, as previously eX- plained. The operator.v now presses the` handle E inward, so as to move the valve D. off its seat and to establish communication between the interior of the hollow stem D., casing A and cylinder E, so that when the operator now permits fluid under pressure to pass through the hose I-I, hollow shaft G and wheel I into the cylinder E, then it passes from the latter, through the stem D into the casing A and into the flue B, to exert its pressure against the piston K, whereby the latter is forced outward in the direction of the arrow al', and the soot and other impurities contained loosely in the flue are pushed forward by the piston K,and the firmly adhering soot is scraped off by the scraper K2. When the piston and scraper have, reached the. outer end of the flue B, then the operatorrel-eases the pressure on the handle E', so that the spring F pushes the valve DA shut, and the steam passing through the cylinder E into the stem D can pass from the latter through the ports D2 into, the chamber A3, and from the `latter the steam can escape through the outlet or exhaust pipe L. It will be seen that the wheel I is now rotated by the force of the steam in the direction ot' the arrow Z1', so that the rope or cord J is wound upon the drum I', and consequently the piston K andscraper K2v are pulled backward within the flue B, so as to be returned to their original position at the time of starting. The device is then applied on a second flue, and the above described operation is repeated, that is, steam is admitted to the casing A by pressing the handle E to cause the steam to act on the piston K, to force the latter and the scraper K2 outward in the flue, and then the piston and scraper are returned on releasing the pressureon the handle E and permitting` the wheel I to revolve, to` Wind up the cord J on the drum. I.

It is understood that when the fluid passes` into and through thewheelI to the casing E, then the wheel I remains at a standstill as the casing is filled with the fluid. When the valve D is opened then the pressure of the iiuid on the piston K pushes the latter outward and causes the wheel I to turn in the inverse direction, but when the valve D is seated and communication is established between they casing E and the atmosphere, then the force of the fluid rotates the wheel I in the direction of the arrow d.

It will be seen that this device is both simple and durable in construction, can be readily applied, and requires comparatively little power to manipulate the individual moving parts.

Having thus fully described'my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A flue cleaner, comprising a casing having an open end adapted for engagement with the flue, a, hollow stem constructed to slide in the said casing and provided with ports adapted to either open into the open end of the casing, or to be closed by contact with the walls of the casing, passages for admitting a fluid under pressure into the hollow stem, a piston scraper adapted to. be. propelled in theflue by said fluid, and a drum, held on the outer end of the hollow sliding stem., and connected to the scraper, as and for the purpose Set forth.

2. A liue cleaner, comprising ascraper held o n a piston, adapted to be propelledthrough the nue by a iiuid under pressure, and a revoluble drum driven by thefluid, and connected with the said scraper to return the latter, substantially as show-n and described.

A flue cleaner, comprising a casing having a valve seat, avalve. adapted tobeseated 0n the said seat and held on a hollow valve stem, a cylinder connected with the Said stem and containing a wheel adapted to be rotated by a fluid under pressure, the said wheel discharging into the said cylinder. from which the fluid can pass through the said stem and its ports into the casing, and a piston-,scraper connected by a cord with a drum On the said wheel, substantially as shown and described.

4: A flue cleaner, comprising a casing havin a valve seat, a valve adapted to beseated on the. said seat and held on a hollow valve stem, a cylinder-connected with thesaid stern' and containing a Wheel adapted to be rotated by a fluid under pressure, the said wheel discharging into the said cylinder from which the iiuid can pass through the said stem and its ports into thecasing, a piston-scraper connected by a cord with adrum on the said wheel, and a spring for holding thesaid valve normally on its seat, substantially as shown and described.

5. A flue cleaner, comprisingV a casing having a valve seat, a val-vel adapted to be seated on the said seat and held on a hollow valve t stem, a cylinder connected with thesaid s tem and containing a wheel adapted to be rotated IOO \ by a fluid under pressure, the said Wheel discharging into the said cy1inder from which the fluid can pass through the said stem and its ports into the casing, a piston-scraper connected by a cord with a drum on the said Wheel, and a steam exhaust chamber formed on the said casing and into which open the ports of the hollow stem, substantially as shown and described.

6. A flue cleaner, comprising a casing having an open end adapted for engagement With the iue, and an exhaustopening, a hollow stem constructed to slide in the said casing 

